Introspection and Beyond

Welcome to Truthoughts: Introspection and Beyond!

This is a site dedicated to Christian studies of various subjects, which include: End Time Prophecy, Apostasy, Ministry, Missions and Current Events. You may notice that there are some other random topics here as well. This is because this was my first site and at the beginning, I wasn’t sure if it would be a personal site or otherwise… it turned out to be otherwise, therefore, I created other sites for my more personal entries. You can see those sites, which are listed below. Thank you for stopping by and I hope to hear from you. If there is anything that you would like for me to research, please feel free to leave a comment and I will do my best to cover it. Thanks again and God bless!
Sincerely In Christ,
Alison

You're Not The Only One

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Posts Tagged ‘Church Rapture’

The following is a post I came across that I would like to share with you here. The author’s email is included at the bottom of the post if you would like to contact him regarding his thoughts. Thanks for reading. (Everything from this point on is a part of the article)

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A Study in Escatology by F.M. Riley

April 8, 2010 The Rapture Before June of This Year? A Study in Escatology by F.M. Riley

Pastor Riley is a dedicated man of God who has studied the scriptures diligently for many decades. In this article about the length of a generation he has analyzed profoundly the parable of the fig tree (Israel) and the last generation mentioned there.

His argument is scriptural and well thought, and I can see that his conclusions stand with a very strong probability of being correct. By his reckoning the Rapture of the church may be before the month of June 2010.

Thank you pastor Riley

Nando

F.M. Riley (9 Apr 2010)

“Why?”

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I wrote the attached Bible study and sent it out a few months ago. However, I have just revised and updated it and am sending it out again. In the light of current events it has never been more timely. Use as the Lord leads.

Pastor F. M. Riley

Why? Here’s Why…..

By Pastor F. M. Riley

Revised April 5, 2010

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

1 Peter 3:15

Introduction

Dear __________,

I want to thank you for writing. You asked me several questions about the timing of the Lord’s coming to rapture His people to glory. If I understood your questions correctly, what you really want to know is “why I believe that the rapture will occur and the Tribulation will begin in 2010?

Sister, your questions have given me both incentive and opportunity to give you an answer that should be of benefit to all true believers. My earnest prayer is that my answers will be Scripturally enlightening and an encouragement, not only to you, but to everyone who reads this study.

So let’s get started…..

In Just One Generation

I believe there is only one appropriate place to begin this study, for everything that I will write about in this study has occurred, or is occurring, in only one Biblically specified “generation.”

The Parable of the Fig Tree

In Matthew 24:32-35 the Lord Jesus Christ gave to His disciples what is commonly referred to as “The Parable of the Fig Tree.” See also Mark 13:28-31 and Luke 21:29-33. This parable was given right after the Lord had concluded the prophecies set forth in the preceding 31 verses of the chapter. In the verses which follow this parable (24:36-51; 25:1-46), the Lord simply expanded upon the prophecies already set forth in the first 31 verses. This arrangement of the Lord’s discourse makes it obvious that the Lord Himself placed great emphasis on “The Parable of the Fig Tree.” This parable is very important. Is there a reason for this? Let’s see…..

To be learned…..Notice that the Lord instructed His disciples to “learn” the parable. Therefore, any one claiming to be a “Christian” that refuses to study and “learn” the truth that is taught in this parable, is willfully disobeying the Lord Himself. Read John 14:21-24. It is sad that many of God’s people [not all] read Matthew 24 and yet pay little or no attention to this parable, and don’t really have a clue as to what it means or why the Lord inserted it in His Olivet Discourse.

The Fig Tree…..When we obey the Lord and study this parable, what we “learn” is that the “fig tree” is symbolic of Israel. This is indisputable for anyone wanting to deal honestly with God’s Word, for such is clearly taught and stated in Jeremiah 24:4-7 and Hosea 9:10, and is used in such a manner in many other Scriptures.

The “Parable of the Fig Tree” then speaks prophetically of the re-establishment and expansion of the nation of Israel. The nation of Israel became a reality in modern times on May 14, 1948. The certainty of this prophecy coming to pass was emphasized by the Lord when He followed the parable by saying, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away,” 24:35.

That this parable prophetically teaches the re-establishment of the nation of Israel was unwittingly [?] verified when the newly established nation issued their first postage stamp. That first stamp was imprinted with a picture of a fig tree budding. Glory to God! Coincidence…?? Or was it the hand of God! You decide!

The tender branch…..When the nation of Israel was re-established, it was only a “tender branch.” Many people in high places, supposedly friends [?] of the Jewish people, had predicted that when the Jews declared themselves an “independent” nation, the Arab nations would wipe them out. But it didn’t happen! Little David beat Goliath right into the dust! When the Jews declared their independence, the whole Jewish population in the holy land numbered only about 350,000 people. They went to war against the Arab nations who have a combined population of a hundred million people, and yet God gave Israel the victory! Glory! Praise the Lord! The “tender branch” had succeeded in “sprouting” again. Read Job 14:7-9 and give praise to Israel’s God [and mine].

The newly formed nation of Israel remained a “tender branch” for the next 7 years. But then in the 8th year the Lord began to “toughen them up.” In 1956 the Jews had to fight the “Suez Canal War.” Once again, the odds were overwhelming, but again God gave them the victory. The “tender branch” had been buffeted in the storm, and had survived and began to grow with new life. The population of Israel began to increase as Jews in other countries began to realize that Israel was here to stay, and they started coming “home.” Read Jeremiah 24:6.

Putting forth leaves…..Eleven more years passed during which the population of Israel steadily increased. Then in 1967 Israel showed the whole world just “how tough” the “tender branch” had become. That year Israel fought the “Six Day War.” In just six days God again gave Israel victory over the combined forces of the Arab nations. In that war Israel regained control of their beloved city of Jerusalem, the Sinai peninsula, and the west bank, known to the Jews as “Judea and Samaria.” The “tender branch” in just six days had “put forth leaves.”

All these things…..Now carefully notice the next statement made by our Lord, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Remember that the Lord commanded His disciples to “learn” this parable. See what things? Know what is near? What doors? I’m so glad you asked!

The word “all” in this verse is translated from the Greek word, “pas.” This word literally means, “all at the same time.” See Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, page 493, Strong’s No. 3956. In other words, the Lord was telling the disciples that when “all these things” that He had predicted in the preceding 31 verses were happening at the same time, then the disciples would “know” that “the kingdom of God is nigh at hand,” Mark 13:29-31. Read Mark’s account for yourself. The Lord said in Mark’s account that the “it” in Matthew’s account is “the kingdom of God.” Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

The Kingdom of God…..In other words, the Lord told the disciples that when that time arrived in human history when Israel had become a nation again, and there were false messiahs arising, wars, racial division, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, people murdering Jews and Christians in the name of God, hatred of the Jews, false prophets spewing out their poison, the abounding of iniquity, and love waxing cold (apostasy), all at the same time, then God’s people should “know” that “it [the kingdom of God] is near, even at the doors.” Hallelujah!

Folks, “the kingdom of God is near.” The Lord said so! If some reading this want to argue about it, don’t bother me with your silly argument. Go argue with the Lord. Tell Him you don’t believe Him. Give Him all your silly reasons for putting off the time of His coming. He said when we “see all these things” His Kingdom is “even at the doors.” The Lord said it, and as far as I am concerned, that settles it!

I can see “all these things” going on today right before my eyes, and if I can then you can. If you can’t, then maybe you ought to take off your blinders, get your head out of the TV, quite watching the “slop” operas and the “bawl” games, and look around you to see what is going on in the world today.

The Doors…..Let’s not overlook the Lord’s statement about “the doors.” Most people pay little or no attention to this expression. Yet it is very important in understanding and “rightly dividing” the truths set forth in this parable.

Notice that the word is “doors,” not “door.” It is plural rather than singular. It is also plural in the Greek text. Check it out for yourself.

When the Lord used the plural form, “doors,” in relation to “the kingdom of God” being near, He was pointing out a truth to His disciples that is commonly overlooked. The Lord pointed out that there are two doors connected with the revelation of “the kingdom of God,” and therefore two different times for the “doors” to open.

The first “door” is found in Revelation 3:8. In this verse the Lord told His New Testament church, “…..behold, I have set before thee [in your future] an open door, and no man can shut it:…” The exact expression in the Greek text is, “…..a door having been opened…..” This “open door” in the future of the Lord’s church is the door in heaven that New Testament believers will go through as they enter “the kingdom of God” at the time of the rapture. Glory!

Proof of this statement is found in Revelation 4:1. In this verse the exact same expression occurs, word for word, in the Greek text, that the Lord gave to His church in Revelation 3:8. This verse in the Greek text literally reads, “After these things I saw, and behold a door having been opened in heaven: and the voice which I heard at the first as of a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up hither, and I will show to thee what things must take place after these things.” This verse, occurring at the end of the prophecies about the church age, and at the beginning of the prophecies about the Tribulation, quite obviously typifies the rapture of New Testament believers into “the kingdom of God” in Heaven. This is the first “door” of the “doors” the Lord spoke about in connection with “the kingdom of God” in Matthew 24:33, Mark 13:29, and Luke 21:31. Then what is the second “door”?

The second “door” is found in Revelation 19:11, where John wrote, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.” This verse and the context, speaks of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ back to this earth at the end of the Tribulation to destroy His enemies and establish “the kingdom of God” upon this earth. Though the word “door” is not used in this verse, it is clearly implied. In the Greek text the word “opened” in this verse is the exact same word used, and in the same tense, as the word “opened” in Revelation 3:8 and 4:1.

Therefore 7 years after the first “door” is opened ushering New Testament believers into “the kingdom of God” in Heaven, the second “door” will be opened allowing the Lord and all the glorified saints to return to earth to establish “the kingdom of God” upon earth. Read Matthew 6:9-10, and rejoice! Praise the Lord!

Remember, the Lord said, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Glory! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Folks, the rapture of God’s people is right at the “door.”

But to make sure that His people wouldn’t overlook it, the Lord narrowed it down even more for us…..

This generation…..The next thing the Lord said was, “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Right here the Lord predicted that all of the things predicted will occur in one specific generation, and will be “fulfilled” before all of those living in that generation “pass away” [die off]. Wow! Glory to God!

What “generation”? Those teaching Preterist theology claim that the Lord was referring to the generation living at the time He gave this prophecy, and that all of Matthew 24 has already been fulfilled (except the Lord’s actual return). Is that so? No it is not so! Such a false interpretation is impossible, for “all these things” in the preceding 31 verses includes “the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” [24:30]. The last time I checked, the Lord hadn’t returned yet. Folks,“all these things” is an on going process taking place during “this generation,” and they haven’t “all” been concluded yet. Before “all these things” are finally fulfilled, the Lord will have returned! The Preterist claim is a perversion of God’s Word and a false claim. Let’s examine this statement for ourselves and see the truth…..

In Matthew 24:34 the word “generation” is translated from the Greek word, “genea.”

This word literally means, “1. a begetting, birth, nativity; 2. that which has been begotten, men of the same stock; a family; the several ranks in a natural descent, the successive members of a genealogy; a race of men; 3. the whole multitude of men living at the same time: Matthew 24:34; Mark 13:30; Luke 21:32. See Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, page 112, Strong’s No. 1074.

This word is used numerous times in the New Testament. A “generation” is a specified length of time from the birth of a child until the birth of that child’s children. In God’s Word a “generation” involves a specified length of time and is associated with a person or people or event that occurs within that particular period of time.

The Lord didn’t leave us in the dark on this subject. The length of a “generation” is clearly defined in God’s Word for those who are willing to “search the Scriptures.” I have heard many “guesses” and various claims as to how long a “generation” is in the Word of God. Instead of guessing or estimating or assuming, why not just let God’s Word define it for us? God’s Word is the final authority!

I have personally looked up and studied every single place in the Bible where the word, “generation,” is used, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Hebrew and Greek words which are translated as “generation” and “generations,” occur 172 times in the Old Testament, and 77 times in the New Testament, for a total of 249 times. The word “generation” is translated from 3 different Hebrew words in the Old Testament and 6 different Greek words in the New Testament.

In carefully studying every one of these Scripture passages, I determined that God’s inspired Word defines the length of a “generation” as being 33 years minimum and 42 years maximum.

If this doesn’t fit any reader’s theory on the length of a Bible “generation,” then I would suggest that you carefully read again Acts 17:24-29, noting especially the statement in verse 26, “ …and hath determined the times before appointed…” Folks, there are time periods in God’s plan of the Ages which ARE NOT limited to a Biblical generation. I acknowledge these time periods in God’s Word and His use of them in His great plan of the ages. Amen! But this doesn’t give Scriptural authority to ignore the length of a “generation” as defined by God’s Word, and insert a time period calling it a “generation.” It is not God’s Word that is wrong!

In making my “generation” study, I also discovered that the Lord has repeatedly subjected Israel to 40 year periods of testing. There are numerous examples of this truth in God’s Word. Our readers can look them up and check them out for yourself.

In the Olivet Discourse the Lord was answering questions asked by four Jews, Mark 13:3-4. They came to the Lord asking Jewish questions about Jewish concerns. The Lord answered them by speaking of things which would be of particular concern to the Jews during this present dispensation, and on to the end of the Tribulation. The entire discourse was then given to the Jews, was primarily for the Jews and concerned with the Jews. Since the discourse primarily concerns the Jews, then I have to believe that the “generation” under consideration in Matthew 24:34 is a 42 year period of testing for the Jews.

I think it is worthy of note that from the time the Lord gave the Olivet Discourse to these four Jews, it was then 40 years later that their Temple was destroyed. Now here at the end of this present dispensation, there has been another period of testing for the Jews. This present period of testing has now reached 42 years, and is proceeding towards completing 43 years. “This generation” is then a period of 42 years.

And the Lord Himself said that…..

Pass Away…..”This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” This does not mean that everything the Lord predicted in the first 31 verses of the chapter will be fulfilled within the bounds of “this generation.” What it does mean is that all of the “generation” of people living at the time that “the tender branch” [Israel] “putteth forth leaves” [expanded their territory, regaining their beloved Jerusalem] will not “die off” before “the kingdom of God” is established upon this earth. Some of them will still be alive when that glorious event occurs. Glory!

Folks, I was 14 years of age in 1948, the year Israel was re-established as a nation. I was 33 years old when the “Six Day War” was fought, restoring to Israel her capitol city, the Temple Mount, the Sinai peninsula, and the West Bank. So I was alive when “this generation” began. I have lived during the time of “this generation.” I am a part of “this generation.” I count myself blessed of the Lord to be one of those living in “this generation.” I have been able to watch many of the great end-time prophecies of His Word being fulfilled before my very eyes. I am now 76 years of age, and if it is in accordance with the Lord’s plan for my life [His will be done, not mine], I fully expect to be one of those of God’s people “…..which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord…..,” which will be “…..caught up together with them [the resurrected saints] to meet the Lord in the air:….,” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. Glory! Hallelujah!

The Time Element…..Since “this generation” is a period of 42 years, then when did it begin? I’m glad you asked!

The Lord told us exactly when “this generation” would begin when He said, “…..When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves…..” Folks, Israel was re-established as a nation in 1948, but for 19 years there was no expansion of Israel’s territory. It was not until the 1967 Six Day War that Israel recovered their beloved capitol city of Jerusalem and other areas, expanding their territory. 1967 was the year that the “…tender branch…..putteth forth leaves…..” The 42 years of “this generation” then began June 5th – 10th, 1967. Now you know!

Since “this generation” is 42 years in length, and it began in June, 1967, then when will it end? From June, 1967 to June, 2009 is 42 years. Count it up for yourself! Since the Six Day War began June 5th through 10th, 1967, and we are now in April of 2010 the 42 years has been completed and we are now within the 43rd year. The 43rd year will be completed June 5th – 10th, 2010. The resurrection and rapture of God’s people should occur BEFORE THAT TIME. No, I DO NOT know the day the rapture will occur, but it is so close that every true believer should be looking for the Lord EVERY DAY NOW! Hello! Do I have your attention yet?

But there is more! For God’s Word reveals that “this generation” is also…..

The Last Generation

Israel was re-established as a nation in 1948. It is then more than coincidence that Psalm 48, the Psalm that corresponds with 1948, describes exactly what happened immediately following Israel’s declaration of independence. See Psalm 48:4-7, and compare the statements made in these verses with the actual history of what occurred in Israel in the last half of May, 1948, and the summer of 1948. Is our God amazing? Then give Him glory! The Psalmist predicted these events some 3,000 years in advance of their fulfillment. Glory to God! Praise the Lord!

Then in this same Psalm in verse 13, the Psalmist was inspired of God to write, “Mark ye well her bulwarks [Zion…Jerusalem], consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.” Notice the words I have underlined carefully, then take your Hebrew Lexicon or Concordance and look up the meaning of those words. The word “following” in this verse is translated from the Hebrew word, “acharon.” This Hebrew word literally means, “hinder; last; hindermost; latter; rereward; uttermost.” See Gesenius Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, page 33, Strong’s No. 314. In other words, the latter part of Psalm 48:13 in the Hebrew text literally reads, “…..that ye may tell it to the last generation.”

Since this Psalm talks about the re-establishment of the nation of Israel, and the Lord was referring to the re-establishment of the nation of Israel in “The Parable of the Fig Tree,” then isn’t it obvious that the Psalmist and the Lord were both speaking about the same “generation? The Psalmist, writing by Divine Inspiration, says that it is “the last generation.”

This truth is confirmed a second time in Psalm 78. This Psalm corresponds with 1978, the year that Israel signed a “Peace Treaty” with Egypt. In verse 4 the exact same word is used in the Hebrew text that is used in Psalm 48:13. “…..showing to the generation to come [acharon] the praises of the Lord…..” In the literal Hebrew, “…..showing to the last generation…..” This verse, which again deals with the re-established nation of Israel, again confirms that “this generation” mentioned by the Lord in the Parable of the Fig Tree is “the last generation” in this present dispensation. Glory to God! Hallelujah! God’s people [true believers] are soon going “home.”

I do not want any reader to misunderstand the truths presented in these passages. The reference to “the last generation” in both of these passages does not mean that there will be no future generations of people. Such an idea would be totally contrary to God’s covenant with Noah in Genesis 9:8-12, and many other passages in God’s Word. According to God’s inspired Word, there will be future “generations” of people born right on into and throughout eternity. See my studies on The Ages to Come.

The “last generation” referred to in Psalm 48:13 and Psalm 78:4, and “this generation” in Matthew 24:34, then has to be understood in the light of God’s great “Plan of the Ages.” In His great plan, the Lord appointed six days [6,000 years…2 Peter 3:8] for mankind to prove themselves capable of handling all the affairs of man upon the earth, as they labor upon the earth. See Exodus 20:9-11, 23:12, 31:15, 34:21, 35:2, Leviticus 23:3, and Deuteronomy 5:13-14. In these 6,000 years the only thing mankind has proven, is that humanity is a total failure without the presence and leadership of Almighty God.

Now we are living in “the last generation” of the “Dispensation of Grace” [Ephesians 3:2], “the last generation” of “the times of the Gentiles [Luke 21:24], and “the last generation” in which man’s leadership shall prevail upon the earth. All future “generations” shall be under the direct leadership and administration of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Praise God! Glory to God! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” 1 Corinthians 15:57. Hallelujah!

The Prophetic Significance

In the Book of Deuteronomy and the Book of Joshua there is a parallel to “this generation” that I believe is prophetically significant. Let me briefly call it to the attention of our readers.

I urge our readers to carefully study the chronological record of events involving Israel, as recorded in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Moses led Israel out of Egypt 2,513 years after the creation of Adam. Due to their unbelief and rebellion, the Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness. As the end of that forty years was approaching, Moses began delivering his final messages to Israel on the 1st day of Shevat, the 11th month on the Jewish calendar, Deuteronomy 1:3. The ministry of Moses was concluded and he died on the last day of that same month; the Jewish month of Shevat, Deuteronomy 34:5-7. The children of Israel mourned for Moses 30 days, the whole month of Adar on the Jewish calendar, Deuteronomy 34:8.

Then on the 1st day of Abib [Nisan] on the Jewish calendar [a new year], the Lord commissioned Joshua to take the children of Israel across the Jordan into the “Promised Land,” Joshua 1:1-9. Ten days later on the 10th day of Abib, the children of Israel came up out of the Jordan river and entered the “Promised Land,” Joshua 4:19.

Because many of God’s people don’t seriously study Bible chronology, they don’t realize that almost immediately after entering the “Promised Land,” the Israelites began fighting a war against their enemies that lasted seven (7) years.

Folks, it certainly appears to me that there is a parallel between Israel’s first 40 year “generation” some 3,400 years ago, and this “last generation” that we are living in today.

Forty-two + years ago [June, 1967] Israel regained control of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple mount. At that time they had an opportunity to rebuild their Temple and renew their covenant with their God. But because of the unbelief of their “faithless” leaders, those unbelieving leaders gave most of the territory they had gained, including their beloved Temple Mount, to their sworn enemies. Over these past 42 years Israel has continued in “spiritual blindness,” wandering in the wilderness of this world, always seeking “peace,” but finding none, and being constantly hated and oppressed by their enemies. Now here at the end of “this generation,” Israel still faces the 7 years of Tribulation. Is there not a parallel to be seen here?

Conclusion

Folks, I make no claim to knowing “that day and hour” when the Lord is coming. All I know is what the Lord Himself said about the “Parable of the Fig Tree.” I have done my best to “faithfully” share His Word with our readers, Jeremiah 23:28. Based on these statements of our Lord, I do know that we are living in the very end of “this generation” on our Gentile calendar.

The Jewish civil year 5769 ended on Rosh HaShanah in 2009, and the Jewish civil year 5770 began. However, on the sacred calendar that the Lord Himself gave to the Jews in Exodus 12, the sacred year 5769 just ended and the sacred year 5770 just began on March 29th – 30th, 2010. Glory to God!

I and hundreds of other true believers are expecting a “change” to occur during the Jewish year of 5770. So far we haven’t been disappointed. One CHANGE after another is swiftly taking place.

Folks, this year [2010] life on earth is changing! This change is beyond what anyone dreamed of or even imagined would occur, especially in America. The “signs” of such changes are all about us, and can easily be seen by those who are seriously studying God’s Word and watching world events.

Every area of life as we have known it in the past is collapsing. There is no question in my mind that total collapse will occur very soon. The economy will collapse, our money will become worthless, more businesses and factories will close, thousands of people will be without work, gas and food shortages will develop, utilities [gas; water; electric] will fail, all forms of communication will break down [yes, even your computer and cell phone], crime will mushroom, law enforcement and governmental authority will break down, and people will be left to their own resources to provide for themselves and their families or starve and die. Martial law will be declared and the authorities will oppress and enslave the people. Humanity is now facing a time unlike anything they have ever seen before in human history. If any reader doesn’t believe this, it won’t change the truth one bit. Just keep breathing and you will see it for yourself.

But don’t despair! In this dark forecast there is a bright side.

I am personally expecting the Lord to come through Heaven’s “door” and rescue [rapture] His people [true believers] in 2010. I personally expect Him to come before the June, 2010 anniversary date of the Six Day War. He is coming soon, Luke 21:28.

“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first;Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Again, in Revelation 3:10 the Lord said to His church, “Because thou hast kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation [testing], which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

Folks, I emphasize to you again…..we are living in the very end of “this generation” on the Jewish calendar. It is time for God’s people to “look up” and get serious about living for the Lord.

It is also time for every lost sinner [one who has never received Christ as their own personal Savior] to get serious about seeking the Lord for the salvation of your soul. Quit playing games with God. Since the Lord uses the Jewish calendar in prophetic reckoning, you may have another 30 days or so to “prepare to meet thy God,” and you may not have even another day or another hour. God have mercy!

If any reader needs spiritual help, I would count it a blessing if you would call on me. I will do everything I know to do to help you find Christ as your own personal Savior, or to help you find assurance of your salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ is coming very soon. Don’t put it off. Get the eternal destiny of your soul settled NOW.

May God grant every reader GRACE is my prayer.

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NOTICE: Permission is granted to any true believer or Bible believing Christian ministry to reproduce copies of this study to share with others, or to quote from it in context as written.

The following is a video (part series) that a friend of mine came across and I would love to share it with you. There is a lot of really great information in each video beginning with a historical look at some prophetic symbolism pertaining to the Lord, to what lays ahead for the world. Please watch, enjoy and let me know what you think.

Also, I would like to give a shout to my friend, Andy who goes by Firecharger on YouTube for sharing this with me. Be sure to check out his channel on Youtube here: Firecharger he has a lot of great information.

Here is a 3 part video series regarding a Prophetic Message Hidden in the Wedding of Canaan where Jesus performed His first miracle. All 3 videos have great information and I find it very interesting, so I wanted to share it with you. Let me know what you think.

Have you ever wondered about the Jewish Festivals in the Bible? Have you ever heard of them having a prophetic relevance for the Jews and the Christians? Has anyone you know ever made claims regarding the Rapture of the Church happening on a Jewish Holiday?

Well, in this study I will attempt to cover the topic of the Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah and it’s prophetic significance / correlation to the Rapture of the Christian Church as some believe. For the record, I do believe that there is a very strong possibility for this and though I may make suggestions in this post regarding this year being a great possibility, this is not written in stone… so, please take note of this before writing to me regarding false prophecies, etc.

So, before we get into this study further… I would like to pre-address the argument regarding that no man will know the day or the hour, which some cling to so that they can have comfort in the fact that they are not “watching”. It reminds me of the stance that ignorance is bliss because if you know the truth, then you are accountable for the truth and that means effort and acknowledgment. For this, I would like to point you first to the scripture that most rely on 1 Thessalonians 5:2 and then I would like for you to pay very close attention to this scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5, which should clarify our position as the Church verses those outside the Church as in the first verse. A decent site for debate reference would be HERE, which goes into detail regarding defending the Rapture theology. There are plenty of scripture verses used in this reference site, so I encourage you to endulge yourself in your study. Another site for studying the relevance of a Rosh Hashana Rapture would be HERE.

As you will see, some of the practices I list here are based in scriptures that I can find and others are instituted through traditions. To make myself clear up front, I do not necessarily condone tradition as a Biblical standard. I am only listing the traditions practiced here for references and to gain a better insight as to how the Jewish people view and practice the Biblical Holidays for a possible deeper understanding behind the meanings for prophetic significance of the Holidays.

Also, as a disclaimer… I do not necessarily agree with 100% of what the reference links state, whether in written/spoken or applied infurance. I have only referred to what is particularly relevant to this study as a whole and anything beyond that is at your own judgment.

Now, to begin… there is a period of 30 days before Rosh Hashanah in which the Jewish people begin repenting in preparation for the coming High Holy-days. This is called Teshuvah. Teshuvah begins on Elul 1. When you put together the 30 days prior to Rosh Hashanah and the 10 days to conclude Yom Kippur, you get 40 days of repentance… Does this sound familiar (*Israel – 40 years in the desert, *Jesus – 40 days of fasting on the mount)? Another interesting point is that we are currently in the 40th (Jewish) year from the time that Israel conquered Jerusalem and then immediately gave it back. Could this be a 40 year time of the Gentiles running the promised land spoken of in Luke 21:24?

In this video, you can gain a little history behind understanding when Rosh Hashanah is calculated as well as other months and days according to the Jewish calendar.

Leviticus 23:24-25 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first [day] of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work [therein]: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Rosh Hashanah is a fall Jewish festival, which is celebrated for two days, Tishri 1 and Tishri 2 (September – October on the Gregorian calendar). Click here for the current Jewish Calendar. Rosh Hashanah is a new moon festival, which begins a new year on the Jewish calendar and this is the reason why they celebrate this holiday for two days because of the need to spot the new moon and the Jews in the Diaspora (dispersed Jews). This holiday was so important because it was a major marker for the Jews to get right with God before He judged them on Yom Kippur for the year to come. Therefore, in order to recognize it on the right day and to get word to the Jews outside of the Holy Land, they observed it on two days. In doing so, the Jews reserve the observance of Rosh Hashanah as one long day and not two separate days.

As with all Jewish festivals and days in general, they begin at sunset the day before and go through to sunset the day of. So, Rosh Hashanah in 2008 is to begin on September 29th… this means that it begins at sunset September 28th. Now, because it is celebrated for 2 days, it would end at sunset on September 30th. The Jewish people begin their celebrations and end them around 6 pm to keep the hours of the day equal even though sunset on some days may not be until 7pm or 8pm, etc. For an accurate sunset time, you can check out this link. To see what time sunset is in correlation to your area, you can click HERE for the world clock.

Leviticus 23:27-28 Also on the tenth [day] of this seventh month [there shall be] a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it [is] a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God… (continues through verse 32)

In the verse above, you see that the very next observance is what is called Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement. The days between Rosh Hashanah (Tishri 1) and Yom Kippur (Tishri 10) are known as the Days of Awe. These are days (High Holy-days) in which the Jewish people basically plead before God so that He will forgive them on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). [a last ditch effort for cleansing if you will].

Numbers 29:1 And in the seventh month, on the first [day] of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.

Now, as you can see in the verse above as well as in Leviticus 23, on this Holy Day, the Jewish people were required to blow the shofar. The Shofar is a rams horn, which is blown for different reasons on different occasions. You can see a Shofar in the picture below.

For Rosh Hashana, the Shofar was blown in a certain way, which can be heard HERE. In Psalm 150:3 the word “sound” is translated from the word teqa` , which is pronounced “tā·kah’ “. You can find out more in depth regarding strongs translation HERE. According to a source, the root for tekiah means “blast” and this is the first sound made on the Shofar. This article also states that:

The second sound made with the sofar is called shevarim, which means “broken.” Broken is a good way to describe this sound. It is intended to portray a person who is crying. Thus, rabbinic tradition states the purpose for shevarim is to remind people of the need for repentance. True repentance is only possible once someone is broken before God.

The third sound is called teruah, which means “alarm.” Teruah is made by sounding at least nine short staccato blasts on the shofar. This sound is intended to alert the hearer to impending danger or some other type of ominous event.

The article goes on to state that these blasts are in recognition of God as Creator, a Father who forgives and a Judge who is coming to judge the entire earth. The article also states that the most associated part of the Shofar blasts on Rosh Hashanah, is one of an awakening blast to resurrect the dead. Regarding this fourth blast, the article states:

Rabbinic literature teaches that it is God who will resurrect the dead and redeem man with the sound of the Shofar…

…The fourth sound made upon the shofar sounds exactly as tekiah, except that it is sounded for as long as one can hold his breath. This is the sound that many believe will announce the resurrection. For that reason, it is called tekiah hagadolah, which means “the great blast,” or as some would refer to it – “the last trump.”

Regarding the different names which refer to Rosh Hashanah, I will quote a source in the following (underline emphasis mine):

Rosh Hashanah literally means Head of the Year.

Other names for Rosh Hashanah include…
Jewish New Year
Feast of TrumpetsFeast of the Last Trump
Feast of the Born Again
Yom Ha’Zikkaron – Day of RemembranceYom Teruah – Day of the Awakening Blast
Yom HaDin – Day of Judgment
Yom HaMelech – Day of the King – the CoronationYom HaKiseh – the Hidden Day(referring to the New or Hidden Moon).

Yeshua said no man knows the day or the hour. This was actually an indication that the “catching away” would take place on this “hidden” festival.

Two other sites, HERE and HERE as well as HERE, adds to the list of name references such as:

The Shout
The Open Door – of the rapture in Matthew 25, and Revelation 3 and Revelation 4:1 is a symbol of the Feast of Trumpets. [Ezekial 46:1] “Thus says the Lord God: The gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.A Thief in the Night – “Of that day and hour no man knows, but my Father only” is an expression used by a groom when asked when his wedding will be. He says this because it is his Father that will tell him when his preparations on the bridal chamber are completed and it is time. Again, the wedding pictures the rapture.Teshuvah – RepentanceThe Time of Jacob’s (Ya’akov) Trouble – (the birthpains of the Messiah, Chevlai shel Mashiach)Kiddushin/Nesu’in – (the wedding ceremony)The Resurrection of the dead – (Rapture/Natzal)

Rosh Hashanah also is referred to in themes… kind of a scene behind the scene. Those themes are as follows:

1. The Rapture – Catching away of the Bride of Christ

This is the topic that we will be focusing on here today. As stated previously in the names for Rosh Hashanah, the one that would be most recognized to this event would be the feast of the Last Trump as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.

2. Resurrection of the dead

As one of the names for the festival of Rosh Hashanah, which fits this theme is Yom Teruah – Day of the Awakening Blast. As the feast of Trumpets, in Jerusalem, when the trumpets would sound, the workers would stop what they were doing and immediately enter the temple. Rosh Hashanah is a time of rest, worship and marriage as you can see from the references here.

3. The Kings coronation

Again referring to the multiple names held for Rosh Hashana, we must associate this theme to that of Yom HaMelech – Day of the King – the Coronation.

The Jewish people believe this day (Tishri 1) to be the day that God created the world, therefore it begins a new year.

Many believe that the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur represent the tribulation period of 7 days = 7 years. Yom Kippur last for 3 days and we will cover that in a different study.

According to this source, the Jewish beliefs regarding the festival of Rosh Hashana correlate with the belief of a rapture/resurrection occurring on this day.

Jewish eschatology is consistent with this view. The Rabbis taught that when 6000 years (or six “days”) of human history are completed, the seventh day, the Day of the Lord will come. On the Feast of Trumpets, Tishri 1, the shofar will sound and all the righteous, both dead and alive will be resurrected. The righteous will go to the “gates” for the coronation of the King, the Messiah and then be united with the Messiah as His bride.

We are currently in the year 5769 according to the Jewish calendar and that ends on Rosh Hashanah 2008. Also something to consider is that this is what they call a Sabbatical year. Many believe that the Lord Messiah will return in a Sabbatical year, therefore, if the Rapture of the Church is 7 years before the Lord’s return… that means the Rapture is also in a Sabbatical year. Many also believe that the Lord’s second coming will be on Yom Kippur, which leaves Rosh Hashanah open for the fulfillment of the Rapture. You can do further research on this by clicking HERE. This link also includes the study that has made its way around the world a few times now regarding the solar and lunar eclipses in the last days. This article will include some videos as well.

Probably one of the strongest indications of how close we are to the Rapture of the Church, possibly being this year is that of the news around the world. All countries are now aligning themselves on one pole or another in this third world war. All of the countries predicted throughout the Bible that will go against Israel in the last days are now creating alliances with each other and the focus of the world is on Israel… just as predicted. I wish that I could go deep into all of that topic here, however, it is much too long for this post. Please check out my links page (tab) above to research that topic.

The following is a study series in 3 parts regarding Rosh Hashanah and the Rapture:

In my original post, I began counting the 50 days, from the Sabbath between the Passover (April 20th) and First Fruits (April 27) as opposed to the Sabbath (Saturday) which follows the Feast of First Fruits. Therefore, I came up with the date of June 8, 2008 for Pentecost. The actual date is Sunday, June 15, 2008.

According to Leviticus 23:15-16, we are to count from the morrow after the first Sabbath which follows the Passover, which is the feast of First Fruits. There are to be 7 Sabbaths completed, even unto the morrow (the day after the Sabbath). [Seven Sabbaths after First Fruits]

Leviticus 23:15-16

And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days [*Omer]; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.

Passover was on April 20, 2008
Feast of First Fruits was on April 27, 2008

I have found an article that goes into a little more detail in some areas of my previous study, which can be found here.

Instead of going over the entire article that I just found, I am going to refer to the parts pertaining to my previous study.

Hebrews 10:30-31,35-39 “For we know Him that said, vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, the Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God…Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

Below is an excerpt from the above article:

…For the enlightenment and benefit of our readers, a literal word for word rendering of Habakkuk 2:2-3 follows exactly as it is worded in the Hebrew text of the Bible,

2: And answered me Jehovah and said, Write the vision, and engrave it on the tablets, so that he may run who is reading it.

3: For still the vision is for the appointed festival, but it pants to the end, and does not lie. Though it hesitates, wait for it; for surely it will come; it will not tarry.

Please compare this literal rendering with the wording recorded in the King James Bible. Notice the words “appointed time” in the KJV. These words are translated from the Hebrew word, “mowadah.” This Hebrew word literally means “appointed festival.” See Gesenius Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, page 457, Strong’s No. 4150.

For any reader willing to deal honestly with God’s Word, this should settle the question of whether or not the Lord is coming on a Jewish Holy Day. This verse explicitly states that the vision of the Lord’s coming is to be fulfilled on “the appointed festival.” In view of this explicit statement, we need not expect the Lord to come at any other time than on a Jewish Festival, for the Lord never violates His own Word…

The Festival of Unleavened Bread

The instructions for observing this festival are given in Exodus 12:14-20 and Leviticus 23:6-14, with specific instructions being given in Leviticus 23:9-14 for the “firstfruits” offering. This observance is also mentioned in several other related passages. What I especially want our readers to notice in the course of this festival is the observance of the “firstfruits” offering.

The “firstfruits” offering was a “sheaf” [omer] of barley, the first grain ripe in Israel in the Spring of the year. There was always some of this grain ripe by Passover. This first ripe barley was gathered in from the field, and the grain was beaten out of the husks until there was an “omer” of barley. The “omer” full of the first ripe barley was then brought to the priest officiating in the Tabernacle [later in the Temple].

The Scriptures tell us that “on the morrow after the sabbath” following Passover, the priest would take this “omer” of barley into the Tabernacle, and standing before the veil which separated the holy place from the “holiest of all,” would lift up the “omer” of barley towards Heaven as high as he could reach, and would “wave the sheaf” [omer] vigorously back and forth before the veil “to be accepted for you, 23:11. The Lord Himself called it a “wave offering” in Leviticus 23:15. Glory to God!

Please dear readers, in this study I am only presenting those facts about the “wave offering” of the “firstfruits” which are necessary to give our readers an understanding of what the offering foreshadowed. You can study all the details for yourself.

The Fulfillment of Firstfruits

If you are a true Bible believer then you know that just as the Israelites sacrificed a lamb on that first Passover [and each Passover thereafter], so 1,517 years later the Lord Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” John 1:29, was sacrificed on Passover in 30 A.D.

Three days and three nights after Christ was crucified, just as the 17th day of Abib ended and the 18th day began, “on the morrow after the sabbath” following the Passover, the Lord Jesus Christ came forth from the tomb, triumphant over death, hell, and the grave, Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-6; Luke 24:1-7; John 20. Glory to God! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Now here is where the events really get interesting. For on that same first day of the week, “the morrow after the sabbath,” the Scriptures state, “many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many,” Matthew 28:52-53. Folks, these were the “firstfruits” [plural] of the resurrection, which included Christ Himself, 1 Corinthians 15:20, all of which were foreshadowed by the “omer” of barley. Glory to God! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! But let’s put it all together.

According to John 20:1-18, on that glorious “first day of the week” when Christ arose, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, “when it was yet dark,” and found the tomb empty. She ran and told Peter and John and they came to the tomb and also found it empty. Peter and John then left the tomb, but Mary remained at the tomb weeping. The Lord then appeared to her, identifying Himself, and saying to her, “Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.” It is then obvious that at that specific time on that resurrection morning, the Lord had not yet ascended to the Father.

However, according to Matthew 28:1-10, just a few hours [or a few minutes…??] later the Lord met “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” as they were going to tell the other disciples what the angel had told them, “And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshiped Him.” Folks, in that interval of time the Lord had ascended into Heaven itself [Hebrews 9:24], where He presented His blood to the Father, and also presented to the Father “the firstfruits of them that slept,” all of which were received and accepted by the Father, and then the Lord returned to earth to meet the two Mary’s. Glory to God!

Folks, it certainly appears that Christ and the “firstfruit” saints were standing before the Father’s throne in Heaven that morning at the very same time that the Jewish priest was standing in the Temple waving the “firstfruits” barley offering before a veil that was standing wide open [Mark 15:38], clearly signifying that the way into Heaven itself was now open for all who will believe, Hebrews 10:19-20. Remember that the Scriptures explicitly state that this offering was “to be accepted for you.” Folks, it is the blood of our risen Christ that makes the truly repentant believer “accepted” by the Heavenly Father, Ephesians 1:3-7. Glory! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Glory to God! “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.” Psalm 150:6.

Folks, there are two things here I want you to notice. First, it is obvious that the “wave offering” of the “firstfruits” of the “omer” of barley on “the morrow after the sabbath” following Passover clearly foreshadowed the resurrection of Christ and those “firstfruits” saints who came out of their graves after His resurrection. Second, this observance marked the beginning of the barley harvest.

Now let’s look at the other Jewish Festival…..

The Festival of Harvest

This Jewish Festival is known today as “Pentecost.” It is referred to in the Scriptures as “the feast of harvest,” Exodus 23:16, and also as “the feast of weeks,” Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10; 16:16; 2 Chronicles 8:13. It is the only other Jewish Festival during the course of the Jewish year where a “wave offering” taken from the barley harvest was presented to the Lord. Didn’t we just see that the “wave offering” of the barley foreshadowed the resurrection and rapture of Christ and the “firstfruits” of God’s people? Then what do you think the second “wave offering” of barley foreshadows? Well..??

The instructions for the observance of Pentecost are recorded in Leviticus 23:15-21. The word “Pentecost” simply means “fifty.” This is because the “wave offering” on Pentecost came fifty days after the “firstfruits” wave offering on “the morrow after the sabbath” following Passover. Both “wave offerings” were regarded as “firstfruits” to the Lord, Leviticus 23:17; 23:20. .

On this “appointed festival” two loaves of barley bread were to be brought “out of your habitations” [homes] to the priest, Leviticus 23:17. The priest would take these two loaves of barley bread into the Tabernacle [or Temple], and standing before the veil would “wave” them before the Lord, just as he had “waved” the “omer” of barley 50 days previously. What does this foreshadow? Let’s see…..

The Waving of the Loaves

These two barley loaves had been baked “with leaven,” Leviticus 23:17. This is the only place in all of God’s Word where the Jewish people were explicitly told to use “leaven.” In God’s Word “leaven” is a type of sin. It never typifies anything but sin in God’s Word, Matthew 13:33; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8. Because leaven typifies sin, the Jews were explicitly forbidden from using “leaven” in all of their offerings to the Lord, except this one. Why this exception?

This exception was made because, just as the “omer” of barley typified the Lord and the “firstfruit” saints, these loaves also typify God’s people. In what way? Folks, true believers are now saints who were once sinners. The only people the Lord saves are sinners. The Lord doesn’t save so-called “good people” [Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23]. He only saves men and women, boys and girls, who realize and confess that they are “dead in trespasses and sins,” Ephesians 2:1; 2:8-9. Then, having believed His Word and repented, the Holy Spirit comes into the repentant believer’s body and takes up His abode, John 14:16-17. And, just as the fire in the Jewish ovens baked the leaven out of those loaves of barley bread, so the fire of God’s Holy Spirit [which was given on Pentecost] bakes the SIN out of the life of the truly repentant believer. Glory! Glory to God! Praise the Lord!

These two loaves of barley bread then served two purposes.

First, they signified the end of the barley harvest which had been harvested over the past 50 days. Note this well!

Second, just as the “waving” of the “omer” of barley clearly foreshadowed the resurrection and rapture of the Lord Jesus Christ and the saints who came out of their graves after His resurrection, so the “waving” of these two barley loaves foreshadows the resurrection and rapture of God’s people [true believers] saved during this present Dispensation of Grace. Folks, the barley harvest is a type of the Dispensation of Grace. Just as the two barley loaves “waved before the Lord” at Pentecost signified the end of the barley harvest, so they also foreshadowed the end of “the fullness of the Gentiles” [Romans 11:25], and therefore the resurrection and rapture of “the dead in Christ” and “the living in Christ.” There are your two loaves! See John 11:25-26 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Now let’s examine some additional proof in God’s Word of what I am presenting, 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

Ruth…..The Gentile Bride

Any serious Bible student knows that Ruth is a type of the Gentile bride of Christ, and that Boaz is a type of Christ. The entire Book of Ruth is filled with Scriptures teaching these truths. Study it for yourself.

When Ruth [the Gentile] returned to the land of Israel with Naomi [the Jewess] “….. they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of the barley harvest,” Ruth 1:22. This gives us the time period involved in this account. The real story of Ruth began on or near Passover and the observance of “firstfruits.”

How and when does the story set forth in the Book of Ruth end? It ends with Ruth’s espousal [and subsequent marriage] to Boaz “in the threshing floor” of Boaz, where Boaz “winnoweth barley,” Ruth 3:2. Folks, that is exactly what the Lord is doing today. He is separating the barley from the chaff [true believers from mere “religionists”] in preparation for the marriage. Glory to God! Hallelujah!

After the espousal had been made on or near the end of the barley harvest [Pentecost], Boaz placed “six measures of barley” on the shoulders of Ruth, and “she went into the city.” Could the six measures of barley be a type of the saved during the 6000 years of human history? 2 Peter 3:8. Could her going “into the city” foreshadow our entering into the New Jerusalem? Folks, Ruth is a type of the Gentile bride of Christ; the Lord’s church, Acts 20:28; 2 Corinthians 11:2. Christ is coming after His bride just as He promised [John 14:1-3], and “they that are Christ’s” shall be “caught up…..to meet the Lord in the air,” 1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. When? On Pentecost!

The Samaritan Woman

In John 4 the Lord met the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob [the well of living water]. The Samaritan woman was looked down upon by the Jews, for they considered her to be a “goyim;” a Gentile dog. The Lord revealed Himself to this Gentile woman as the promised Messiah of Israel and the great “I AM.” [Check the actual way John 4:26 is worded in the Greek text].

The Samaritan woman then went into the city and proclaimed, “Come, see a Man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” Folks, this is exactly what the Lord’s church has been doing the past 2,000 years; inviting the lost world to come to Christ. Some readers may object to using this adulterous woman as a type of the Lord’s church. I suggest that before you become too “self-righteous and holy” you ought to read Paul’s inspired statement to the church in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. When a repentant sinner is “justified,” they become as spiritually pure as if they had never known sin. Sure this woman had previously had five husbands and was living in open sin with a man right then, but has it ever occurred to some of you that Ruth wasn’t a “virgin” either. She also had been previously married. Yet she is a wonderful type of the pure, virtuous Gentile bride of Christ. So is the Samaritan woman. Glory to God! Praise the Lord!

Now notice that the Lord’s disciples came on the scene and urged the Lord to eat. The Lord’s reply in John 4:34-36 is so enlightening.

“…..My meat [food] is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both He that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.”

Folks, Christ Himself is the “sower” who began sowing the seed at the beginning of the harvest season. He said so Himself in Matthew 13:37. He is also the “reaper” who brings the harvest to an end. That is exactly what He is stating in John 4:34. He is the One who will “finish the work” that He began. Praise the Lord!

But when is the work to be finished? Folks, it is exactly four months between the Festival of Pentecost and the Festival of Tabernacles. Count it for yourself. So it is obvious that the Lord met the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well on the day of Pentecost. Folks, the Festival of Tabernacles is the celebration of all the completed harvests [barley…wheat…grape] at the end of the year. But there, on the day of Pentecost, the Lord explicitly told His disciples, “DO NOT SAY…..There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest….” The Lord told His disciples the harvest was ready right then and was being reaped that day. What day? The day of Pentecost!

Folks, the Lord is coming to resurrect and rapture His New Testament saints to glory at the end of the barley harvest on the day of Pentecost. Glory! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

But what about…..

Rosh Ha-Shanah

“That is the day the trumpets are blown, and the rapture is clearly associated with the blowing of a trumpet, so it must be the day the rapture will occur. Right?”

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! If God’s people would seriously get into God’s Word, they would find that the trumpets were blown on every Jewish holy day. Read it for yourself. The inspired instructions for making and using the trumpets are given in Numbers 10:1-10. Verse 10 explicitly states, “Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God.”

Folks, the trumpets were blown on every day of significance to the Jewish people throughout their whole year. If all you have to connect Rosh Ha-Shanah with the resurrection and rapture of God’s people is the blowing of trumpets, then you have nothing.

Further, Rosh Ha-Shanah is not one of the three Jewish Festivals. Habakkuk 2:3 explicitly states “For still the vision [of the Lord’s coming for His people] is for the appointed festival…” Folks, the Lord is not going to violate His own Word. The resurrection and rapture of God’s people is going to occur on one of the three Jewish Festival during the course of Israel’s year. Rosh Ha-Shanah is not a festival!

Again, Rosh Ha-Shanah comes in the end of the year just 15 days before the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles. Tabernacles comes four months after Pentecost. The Lord explicitly told His disciples, “DO NOT SAY, there are yet four months…” until the harvest. Are you one of the Lord’s disciples? Are you listening to Him?
The Rosh Ha-Shanah theory just doesn’t stand up to the testing of God’s Word. I might add that it makes no difference who is teaching the theory. That won’t alter the truth of God’s Word one iota. Almighty God is not a respecter of persons.

The Significance

Folks, the Day of Pentecost this year falls June 8th, however it actually begins at sundown on June 7th in Israel. What are the significance of these dates?

On June 7, 1967 the Holy Temple Mount and the city of Jerusalem were returned to their rightful owners during the Six Day War. That is the “date” when the tender branch of the fig tree put forth leaves, Matthew 24:32. The Lord Himself said, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors,” Matthew 24:33. June 7, 1967 is the “date” when the forty year “generation” began, Matthew 24:34. Therefore on June 7, 2007 the fortieth year arrived. However, Israel is still in the 40th year until June 7, 2008. The 41st year will begin on June 8, 2008. What day is that? It is the Day of Pentecost. Is all of this just coincidence? Or is Almighty God trying to tell His people WHEN He is coming?

I am also told that Pentecost marks the 33rd counting of the “omer.” Thirty-three is the Bible number for “promise.” Is this just another coincidence? Some 2,000 years ago the Lord Jesus Christ promised His disciples, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also,” John 14:3. Folks, the Lord always keeps His Word, and on this coming Pentecost, June 7th – 8th, you will see that for yourself. Glory! Praise the Lord!

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief,” 1 Thessalonians 5:4. Do you believe this Scripture? Do you really believe this Scripture? If you do, then you better get with God’s program. Our Lord is coming!

Conclusion

Folks, this truth is so simple that I now realize that the Lord has tried to show me this truth previously, and I was so dense I stumbled right over it.

The “feast of firstfruits” marked the beginning of the barley harvest, and foreshadowed the resurrection and rapture of “Christ [and] the firstfruits…,” 1 Corinthians 15:23.

The “feast of harvest” [Pentecost] marked the end of the barley harvest, and foreshadows the resurrection and rapture of all New Testament believers. Glory!

Isn’t that simple? Such a simple truth that God’s people have been stumbling right over it for centuries…

It truly is an amazing thing if we are that close to our going home to be with the Lord forever, always to be with Him. No matter how it all plays out, we know that He promised to return for His Church, He promised to prepare a place for us [John 14:2-3] there where He is and He has never let us down. He said to watch, look up and love His coming, so I urge you to do just that. Be prepared:

Luke 12:45 “But if that servant say in his hear, My Lord delayeth His coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

Luke 12:46 “The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.”

Luke 12:47 “And that servant, which knew his Lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

So, prepare yourself to meet your God because whether He comes while you live or not, you will meet Him.

“[…] Remember when Messiah said the gates of hell will not prevail against the church! Gates
are a defensive piece of armory, not offensive! The church has been terrified of being
attacked by gates?! The truth here is that the gates are trying to keep people in captivity
and the church is supposed to storm the gates of hell and rescue the people held cap-
tive! The truth is that Satan and his minions are terrified of us! It’s time to storm them
and that’s my heart. Be Blessed!

I hope you enjoyed listening to the song above and now watch the video. May you
be inspired to join me as we Wake, Watch and go to Work! Pass this on to other
Warriors! We need to quit squabbling over the dating of the rapture and unite to the
Work! Keep this going, time is short, and the battle is near!”

There is a lot more that he said, but I would like for you to visit his site to see for yourself. The excerpt that I am sharing here is one that we should all be able to relate to in the Church. There should be no controversy with this. I found his words very insightful and inspiring and I hope that you will as well. Please do give it a read and if you have any questions about what he teaches, please ask him. Pastor Mark Biltz is the perfect source to find out what he, himself, means with what he states.

In this content that he has written, it also states his clarifications of what others may be misunderstanding about the controversial video interview he had with Prophecy In The News. For your researching desires, this is a great place to start.

This video has caused quite a stir amongst those in the church and those leering in for multiple reasons. For some, it has been an encouraging wake up call, for others, it has been an alarming siren that they just want to silence. It reminds me of the comparison of Jesus being the corner stone and a stumbling block.

This first part (regarding 2009) I have added to my “Rapture Theories” page, located in a tab above:

One point that I would like to point out first that I did not cover in my Pentecost Rapture post originally is that most Christians believe that Christ Jesus will need to fulfill all of the feasts of the Lord. We all know that He has already fulfilled the first 3 and have ideas on how He will fulfill the last ones in the fall… however, many believe that Pentecost has been fulfilled by Him and yet, that is NOT the case. Pentecost for the Church was done by the Holy Spirit, not Jesus. Therefore, Jesus still needs to fulfill it. This is where the Rapture (which is the next event on the prophetic time table) comes in.

Just a note… I have noticed that there is some confusion as to when Pentecost is this year (2009). Some are saying that it is on Friday, May 29, 2009. It is actually on Sunday, May 31, 2009 (though it begins at sundown on May 30th to sunset May 31st). You can see this in Leviticus 23: 15-16 . Pentecost is always the day after the Sabbath. The Sabbath is always on Saturday and the day after that is always a Sunday.

The following quote was added for 2008:

First of all, the true biblical holiday of Pentecost is NOT this weekend (May 17-18). Christians who are celebrating Pentecost on this weekend are basing their judgment on Easter, which they believe represents the Passover… this is not true. Easter was celebrated a month before Passover this year based on the Gregorian calendar not the Hebrew calendar. The true Passover was on April 20th not March 23rd. Therefore, Pentecost is actually June 8th. [*edit by author* Thanks to a wonderful reader, Donna, she pointed out that Pentecost in 2008 is actually June 15th. I went back to research this information and found that she is correct. I began my counting from the Sabbath between Passover and First Fruits, but I was suppose to count from the following Sabbath. This takes us to June 15, 2008, which is a Sunday. I deeply appologize for the inacuracy, but I gratefully thank Donna for the correction.]

Now here is where it may get a little confusing to some… If we base our dates and times according to Jerusalem, since that is how God did it, then this would cause us to begin our celebration on June 7th. According to the Bible, the beginning of a day is at sunset on the previous day. So, June 8th would actually begin at sunset on June 8th and go until sunset on June 8th. Well, if you live in CST in the United States (we are currently 8 hours behind Jerusalem) that would be around 10:00 am ‘ish our time. CLICK HERE to calculate the sunset times for these dates. CLICK HERE to see what time it will be in your area. You also need to keep in mind that the Biblical Sabbath is actually on Saturday not Sunday as the pagans celebrate.

Now that we have that covered, lets take a look at a few things about Pentecost and the rapture, taking place on Pentecost…

A Specific Time vs. A Specific Number of Believers

Regarding Romans 11:25 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness inpart is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Some base their belief that no one knows the day or the hour because you cannot know how many will be included into the church, therefore, you cannot determine when the rapture/resurrection will occur.

Okay, I agree that there is a definite number of those who will be saved by grace before the tribulation, however, I would not limit God to say that He couldn’t calculate this to fit perfectly with a specific date… The Lord God is one of perfect accuracy; the Bible says that God knows the day and the hour in which the rapture/resurrection will occur.

Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, My Father only.”

Now, we must keep the ‘lack of information’ towards man in the proper context here. In this chapter, Jesus is speaking to the Jewish people who will be here during the tribulation, not the Church. The point I am trying to make with this verse is that the Father already knows when it is all going to happen. For more clarification on my previous sentence, please read: Amos 3:7

The Bible also states that the festivals are a shadow of things to come, which means that they each have a prophetic fulfillment.

Colossians 2:16-17 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come;…”

Some may say that these holy days are fulfilled “for the Jewish people…” Well, the Church began on Pentecost and it includes the Gentiles… not just the Jewish people. A good way to look at it is that Pentecost could be the parentheses around the Church age between Daniel’s 69th week and the 70th week.

Lets continue to look at God, as a God of specifics (this character trait is what allows us to put our trust in His Word and the accuracy of His Word). If we were to compare the rapture/resurrection of the Church to a nautical picture, as some may, based on Romans 11:25, then we must look at it from more of a military image rather than one of a random traveler. We are soldiers in Christ, which is why we are called to put on the full armor of God:

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

A military ship, though sailors may get drunk on their leaves, will leave at precisely the right time and if you aren’t ready when the time comes… you would get left and charged with an AWOL. Kind of sounds like the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, don’t you think? Matthew 25

Pentecost Beginnings

Pentecost is celebrated on the 6th of Sivan, which is 50 days after the Passover Sabbath (First Fruits). This holy day is sandwiched between the three holy days in the spring (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits) and the three holy days in the fall (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot “Tabernacles”). Its true Hebrew name is Shavuot. We get the name Pentecost from the Greeks, which means 50 because of the 50 days we count from the Passover Sabbath.

Leviticus 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest unto the priest:

Leviticus 23:15-16 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete: And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete:

Pentecost Reference Names

The Feast of Weeks (because of the counting of weeks between Passover to Pentecost)
First Fruits of the Wheat Harvest (because this is when the wheat harvest is gathered)
Feast of Ingathering (because this is when the harvest is gathered unto the high priest)

Pentecost History

1. According to Jewish tradition based in the book of Enoch, Enoch was born and raptured to heaven on the holy day Pentecost. CLICK HERE for the book of Enoch. Genesis 5:21-24 Enoch is viewed as a type of the Church whereas, we too will be spared from the tribulation period as he was from the flood. Many scholars refer back to Jesus stating in Matthew 24:37 that His coming would be as in the days of Noah.

With this assumption, then the world (nations) would be destroyed (judged) by His wrath, a remnant of Israel (Noah) would be spared through His wrath and the Church (Enoch) would be removed before His wrath. I believe that the beginning of God’s wrath starts with the first seal in Revelation 6, but that is a topic to be covered later.

So, if this is the case and Enoch was raptured on his birthday… then the conclusion could be made that the Church might also be raptured on it’s birthday – Pentecost, for we are sealed for the day of redemption Ephesians 4:30.

2. The Torah was given to the Jewish people as a covenant between them and the Lord God on Mount Sinai. Exodus 19

3. The Holy Spirit filled the Church and sealed them for the day of redemption. Acts 2 and Ephesians 4:30

Pentecost Practices

Exodus 23:16 And the Feast of Harvest, the First Fruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field: and the Feast of Ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field.

Exodus 34:22 And thou shalt observe the Feast of Weeks, of the First Fruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at year’s end.

Leviticus 23:17 “Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord.”

We may assume that these two loaves of leavened bread, which are also called the “first fruits” to the Lord, are the Church (1=Jewish believers, 2=Gentile believers). We are called the First Fruits unto the Lord. The leaven represents sin and giving it in a wave offering is a way of sanctifying it before the Lord as He did with us through Christ the Messiah. A good point to make here as well, is that this is the ONLY feast where leaven is used and so it can be viewed that this is the only feast directly dealing with the Church.

James 1:18 “Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

The book of Ruth is read. The book of Ruth, has been compared to, the story of the Church, our relationship to Israel and the Lord by many scholars. I would like to quote Jack Kelly now on his take regarding this:

Naomi in the role of Israel, destitute and alone; Ruth as the Church, the gentile bride; Boaz as the Kinsman Redeemer (Messiah) and the story a prediction of the relationship between the three of them. On His way to redeeming Israel, the Kinsman Redeemer takes a gentile bride, saving both from destitution.

Pentecost Future

Exodus 19:13 “…when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.”

Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

Matthew 13:30 “Let both [wheat and tares] grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn.”

Pentecost Summary

In summation, Pentecost is a very good possibility for the rapture/resurrection of the Church. One more idea I would like to share regarding whether we will be aware of it right before or not… If we use Enoch as an example, then according to the book of Enoch, he was told the day of his rapture that it was time to go. If memory serves me correctly, he was told a year before that he had a year left to get his house in order.

Anyway, Enoch is a “Lost Book of the Bible”, so its infallibility is in some question whether it has been preserved completely or not. The canonized Bible that we use today makes reference to the book (teachings) of Enoch, so researching it with discernment could prove beneficial. Jude 1:14-15

Either way, whether it happens on Pentecost or not, we will keep looking up… watching and preparing while sharing the Word of God with others until we cannot work in the harvest fields any longer because our Beloved has called us home.